After a stop start 2011/2012 season, Tom Cleverley is raring to go ahead of Manchester United’s curtain raiser against Everton next week.
Cleverley was the talk of the town at the start of last season following some impressive early showings, but a number of niggling injuries put paid to that keeping him out for a number of months.
When he did return he saw his playing time decrease drastically as Paul Scholes stepped back into the first team fold, but this year Cleverley feels 100% and thinks playing for Team GB at the Olympics has aided his efforts to get into optimum shape for the big kick off as he told MUTV:
“I’ve been away for a few weeks now but to come back into a good game in a good stadium and be playing with the world-class players we’ve got only helps your game, so it’s good to be back.
“I think the Olympics has been good for me. I’ve got six games under my belt including the two friendlies so I feel 100 per cent. I’m happy and looking forward to the season.”
If we can sign a big midfielder like Axel Witsel then I could see us playing this formation in Europe.
……………Dea Gea………..
Jones….Smalling….Vidic….Evra
……….Carrick…..Witsel……
…Cleverely….Kagawa…..Rooney..
…………..Van Persie…………
We saw again Hannover that they where trying to get Cleverley, Kagawa and Rooney linking up and playing deeper. It would make sense because Ferguson seems to be chasing Van Persie. We would obviously still have the option of Valencia, Nani and Young. Those three could come in and play behind on striker in Welbeck as well.
….Valencia…..Young…….Nani……
……………..Welbeck…………..
We would have a lot of strength and options going into next season. Of course its based on Van Perie actually arriving and hopefully a powerful midfielder like Axel Witsel.
Really big season for Cleverly. If he stays fit he will become an integral part of our midfield and prove he is a top class player.
It’s vital that Cleverley stays fit this season. I think he can become top player but he needs to get 35-40 games this season in a Man Utd shirt. I think he is capable of scoring us goals as well which is important. I honestly feel once he scores his first goal they could flow, and he could get 8-10 this season. Long-term he can potentially look at Gerrard and Lampard and the goal return they have provided from midfield.
I do like the look of @Peter comments above. I do like Cleverley but still believe a powerful midfielder is needed. We saw the difference Yaya Toure has made and even yesterday it was evident. Cleverley is important but he could play futher forward in a link with Kagawa. I feel Carrick holding alongside a box to box midfielder like Witsel would free all the attackers like Rooney and Kagawa.
37Million was much to much to pay for Lucas Moura. I wonder how many Utd fans today would pay the 20plus million for Anderson again, who after all, starred in both an Olympics and youth World Cup.
There are other quality midfielders out there and I’d be happy with the likes of Witsel or J.Martinez etc.
I agree I wouldn’t pay the money we spent on Anderson given the choice. This is why I was surprise Ferguson was chasing Lucas so much. I mean Anderson came from Portugal at least, but Lucas was straight from Brazil, even more of a gamble.
I was happy PSG came in and took him to be honest. I thought £30 million was too much for a guy that couldn’t get in the Brazil Olympic team. PSG ended up paying £35 million for a player that could easily end up like Anderson.
I’m hoping the rumours over a £23.6 million bid for Robert Lewandowski is true. It would mean Man Utd have reached their limit with RVP. Lewandowski is a top striker and he is only 23. He is more of a Man Utd signing. RVP is a quality striker and would be welcomed, but I would prefer the big Polish striker.
I also agree with the comments above for Axel Witsel. Come on Fergie….30 million euro for Lewandowski and 30 million euro for Witsel. Also throw in 6 million euro for Nacho Monreal to help in the left back area.